Ukraine rebuffed Pope Francis’s call to negotiate an end to the war with Russia more than two years into its invasion. In the interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS, the 87-year-old Catholic leader raised the prospect of surrender. While Francis has raised the need for talks in the past, the recent interview is believed to be the first time he used terms like “white flag” or “defeated” in discussing the Ukraine war.
In response to Francis’s call, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote, “Our flag is a yellow and blue. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags.” Kuleba called on the pope to stand “on the side of good” and not put the opposing side “on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations.’” In addition, the Foreign Minister of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, condemned the pope’s remarks. He posted on X, “How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine? Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations.” Andrii Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, compared the pope’s comments to calls for “talking with Hitler” while raising “a white flag to satisfy him”.
Regarding Francis’s statement, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that the pope supported “a stop to hostilities [and] a truce achieved with the courage of negotiations,” rather than an outright Ukrainian surrender. While the controversy surrounding Francis remains a topic of debate, it is imperative not to lose sight of the ongoing conflict that has persisted for two years between Ukraine and Russia. This conflict, characterized by a struggle for territorial control and geopolitical influence, has been marked by intense fighting and significant consequences for both nations and the wider region.
Concerning the historical background of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian counteroffensive has yielded few results due to logistical challenges, tactics, and flat terrain. On the other hand, Russia’s extensive preparations, including trenches, anti-tank obstacles, and bunkers, have effectively contained Ukrainian forces. The conflict has devolved into slow, attritional warfare, with Russia’s strategy of impeding Ukrainian advances proving successful. Al Jazeera reports that despite technological advancements, such as drones, the battlefield is reminiscent of World War I.
In conclusion, Ukraine has consistently maintained its stance of refraining from direct engagement in peace talks with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated on numerous occasions that negotiations for peace must be initiated by the aggressor nation, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the country that has initiated the invasion.
